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Through my Lens: Ted Kremer's spirit is infectious

By Jeff Swinger, jswinger@enquirer.com
9:46 a.m. EDT May 12, 2014

Cincinnati Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips (4) was all smiles after he got a high five from guest bat boy Ted Kremer of White Oak during their baseball game against the Chicago Cubs at Great American Ball Park. The Enquirer/Jeff Swinger

Cincinnati Reds left fielder Ryan Ludwick (48) high fives guest bat boy Ted Kremer of White Oak after his fourth inning home run against the Chicago Cubs during their baseball game at Great American Ball Park. The Enquirer/Jeff Swinger

Cincinnati Reds guest bat boy Ted Kremer of White Oak was enjoying himself along with left fielder Ryan Ludwick (48) in the dugout during their baseball game against the Chicago Cubs at Great American Ball Park. The Enquirer/Jeff Swinger

Cincinnati Reds guest bat boy Ted Kremer of White Oak was enjoying himself along with Chirs Heisey in the dugout during their baseball game against the Chicago Cubs at Great American Ball Park. The Enquirer/Jeff Swinger

That Aug. 17, 2012, photo launched Kremer to national fame. Teddy has since been invited to Washington, D.C., by House Speaker John Boehner as special guest for the State of the Union speech. President Barack Obama waved to him.

Teddy once ran into entertainer Tom Jones in the airport. Last season, he requested a home run from Todd Frazier – and got it.

Teddy's spirit is infectious. His story keeps on giving. When you think you've seen it all, something great happens when Teddy is around.

Bat boy Ted Kremer asked Reds third baseman Todd Frazier to hit him a homer in the sixth inning of Thursday's game against the Marlins. Frazier complied, giving the Reds an 11-1 lead.

The journey will continue Monday when the ESPN special "Teddy Ball Park" airs again and Enquirer sports reporter John Erardi and I join a panel about it. That begins at 6 p.m. Monday at Three Rivers Educational Campus.